Before:
Taking your time is one of the most important things
when deciding on getting a tattoo. It will be with you for
the rest of your life so it really isn't something you should
rush into.
First things first. You're thinking about getting a tattoo so
you should have at least some idea of what kind of
tattoo you want. From here, you should start
researching the style further: do some Googling, check
out some blogs, forums, buy some tattoo magazines, to
get inspiration and ideas about what you'd like to get.
Start researching tattoo artists and studios. Obviously
price and location are going to be important factors, but
do not limit yourself to the closest studio to you just for
the convenience, and don't just go to the cheapest you
can find. A good start would be to search on Google
Maps, see what studios pop up within the area you'd be
willing to travel, then browse through their websites.
Check out the artists portfolio / gallery. If you like what
you see then get in touch with the studio to arrange a
consultation. Many studios offer flash work (pre-
drawn tattoo images) but it's almost always better to
have a custom design made just for you. Also note: all
tattoos hurt, so try not to base your decision on size /
pain.. It's better to suffer a little longer for something
that you'll love than worry about it hurting and get
something you'll always wish was bigger. Also think very
carefully about the visibility of your tattoo. It's an
unfortunate but well-known fact that tattoos are
often looked down on in the work place so be very
careful about getting it on your hands, neck or anywhere
else that you couldn't easily cover for work.
When you're happy with what is designed, it's time to
get tattooed.

During:
Yes, it will hurt. But it will always be bearable. If it was
that bad, you wouldn't see so many people with them!
Some areas hurt more than others, such as directly over
bones (elbow, spine) and certain fleshy areas can be
more sensitive that others.
I can only really tell you how I prepare from experience..
Do not drink alcohol for 24 hours before getting a
tattoo. This is, in my opinion, a safe time frame. Alcohol
thins your blood which can cause bleeding that makes it
harder for the ink to stay in your skin, so that one drink
the night before really isn't worth it. I'm told caffeine and
such from coffee and energy drinks can do similar so I'd
be tempted to avoid those too..
Secondly, get a good nights sleep. It's likely that you might
be a bit nervous before your first tattoo, and it will
definitely help to be well rested beforehand. Get some
food in you too; breakfast or lunch, even a couple rounds
of toast or a sandwich an hour or so before will help.
Most importantly, I think, you want to keep your blood
sugar level high, so a bottle of Lucozade or similar is
recommended.
After that, just try to relax. Tensing your body up won't
help anyone, so keep calm and take deep, long breaths.
Typically, the first 10-15 minutes are the worst,
especially if it's your first time, but soon after your
body's Endorphins kick in and you will get somewhat used
to the pain. It can also help to listen to some music, read a
book, or even chat to the tattooist to keep your mind
off it.
As it has already been mentioned, try to wear clothing
that allows for easy access to the area that is being
tattooed, and don't wear your fanciest clobber, it's
pretty likely that you'll get ink or blood flick onto it. All you
need to do really is be clean, as hygiene goes further than
fashion.
Your artist will shave the area with a disposable razor,
then apply a spray that will allow the tattoo stencil to
print onto your skin. At this point you can see where and
how the design will be positioned, and can ask for any
changes to be made before beginning. Quite often
(especially with larger designs) the tattooist will
'freehand' part of the design, for example, so the design
flows better with the shape of your body.
Your tattooist will have his station already setup so
after applying (usually) a Vaseline-line cream to the area,
he/she will begin to tattoo. Typically, the outline is done
first with a single needle machine. It's generally accepted
that this part hurts the most, but it does vary greatly.
Depending on the actual design, after this will come
shading, which is done with a needle that splits into
multiple smaller ones, and then colour is usually added.
Depending on the size / detail of the tattoo and how
long the session is to last, all of this may be done at once,
or you may requite several 'sessions'.
When the tattoo or session is finished, the artist will
clean the area and you'll be able to check out the work in
the mirror. He/she will then wrap the tattoo (usually in
cling film).

.

After:
Now, the aftercare. This is a very important part and
you will likely hear many different methods and bits of
advice, so I'll just give my routine that has worked
perfectly for me after 18 hours of tattooing.
When you get home, gently remove the clingfilm and
dispose of it. Now if you've had a large piece like a sleeve
or something on your back, it's best to get in the shower
for this..
You want to very gently wash the tattoo with a mild
antibacterial soap. Wet it with your hands and carefully
lather it to remove any blood / goo from the tattoo and
surrounding area. DO NOT scrub the tattoo with any
type of sponge / cloth, and avoid running the water
directly over the tattoo. Also do not submerge the
tattoo in water for at least a couple of weeks.
Now gently pat (not rub) the tattoo dry with a fresh
clean towel or cloth (avoid anything fluffy) and put it
straight in the wash afterwards (hygiene!).
You now need to apply something to help heal the
tattoo. Personally, I use Bepanthen. It's a happy rash
cream, but is extremely popular for healing tattoos.
Apply a thin layer to the tattoo with your fingers.. It's
quite thick so a little can go a long way.
I keep it on over night although it can make a mess of you
bed sheets so that's your call.. but you basically want to
repeat the gentle wash and cream twice a day for 3-4
days. After the soreness has gone away I generally stop
applying the cream and allow the tattoo to dry and
'breathe'. It shouldn't have really scabbed up as the
Bepanthen tends to prevent that, but it will dry out
somewhat and begin to flake / peel. It's important that
you do not pick or scratch the tattoo at all during this
process as it is still healing and still needs taking care of.
Generally speaking, the tattoo should be pretty much
fully healed in a fortnight. I have never had any issues
following that routine. After that, you can admire your
lovely healed tattoo!
Now tattoos do fade over time, and one of the main
causes for this is UV rays, aka sunlight. It's always
advisable to protect your tattoo in the sun and never
allow the area to get burnt if you want to preserve the
appearance of your tattoo.
Many daily moisturisers these days are SPF15 which is
often all you need, but for heavy sunlight and holidays
you'll need something much stronger.

General Advice:
Don't rush. Do plenty of research. If you don't know
what tattoo you want, you probably don't really want
one.
Don't go cheap. Be prepared to pay out a little more for
a really good artist and also be prepared to travel a little.
Convenience doesn't beat quality.
Think about the future. Consider carefully the location of
the tattoo; public tattoos (hand, neck, FACE, and even
lower arm) can affect your job prospects. Also think
long and hard about getting a name tattooed on you,
specifically a partners name.. Tattoos are permanent,
relationships aren't!
If you want any advice at all, feel more than free to
post here and we'll be happy to help. It's also worth
picking up some copies of tattoo magazine such as Skin
Deep and Total Tattoo for inspiration. Also some blogs
like http://fyeahtattoos.com/ and http://
tattoosnob.com/ www.craytunes.blog.com are great for ideas. Peace x

.

(Y)

Love that last one

Cool ones

Coolerr

Today's fix

.

Branding is just tacky.. but I like tattoos otherwise.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/1079068_caramunch_2013_03_20_141126_png55519ac68e398f90a9e89a3a3fbb18df


I just like this. Just cut out the tattoo and face.

@op
Pls were can i get a tatt in IB?

Tawis06: @op
Pls were can i get a tatt in IB?

Try Ola fashion salon at Shop 26 ,Mariam Acade Road, Olomi, Oluyole.

Am not too familiar with Ib tho

kandiikane: www.nairaland.com/attachments/1079068_caramunch_2013_03_20_141126_png55519ac68e398f90a9e89a3a3fbb18df


I just like this. Just cut out the tattoo and face.

She's sexy fo sure. But umm u don't like tattoos?

SniperInADiaper: Branding is just tacky.. but I like tattoos otherwise.

Tho I find branding totally crazy, I prefer seeing it on other people's skin rather than try that out. The pain from the burning is excruciating to say the least lol

me like tattoos. Am getting one on my upper arm soon

NessaFresh:

Tho I find branding totally crazy, I prefer seeing it on other people's skin rather than try that out. The pain from the burning is excruciating to say the least lol

So it a nutshell u dot have a tattoo? Why dont u try one and lest see how cool it wud look on ya. It shouldn't just be about ur research work, lets see how active u could be too in experiencing the flair of having a tattoo...

I forgot about this thread.... ill be back to add some pics later

SniperInADiaper: I forgot about this thread.... ill be back to add some pics later

Cooooooollll!!!! U're needed!

When I see tats like that cross I think its a cover up for some Bleep up.

...

Some of these are awesome.